Antenna systems including internal planar inverted-F Antenna coupled with external radiating element and wireless communicators incorporating same

Abstract

Antenna systems for use with wireless communication devices such as radiotelephones are provided and include a first antenna configured to be internally mounted within a wireless communicator and a second antenna configured to be mounted external to the wireless communicator. The first antenna is resonant within a frequency band and the second antenna is configured to electrically couple with the first antenna so as to enhance the resonant frequency band of the first antenna. The second antenna may be parasitically coupled with the first antenna or directly connected to the first antenna. Alternatively, the second antenna may be directly connected to a ground plane adjacent to a signal feed of the first antenna.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An antenna system for a wireless communicator, comprising: 
 a first antenna configured to be internally mounted within a wireless communicator, wherein the first antenna is resonant within a first frequency band; and    a second antenna configured to be mounted external to the wireless communicator, wherein the second antenna is configured to electrically couple with the first antenna and enhance the first resonant frequency band of the first antenna.    
     
     
         2 . The antenna system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first antenna comprises an inverted-F antenna.  
     
     
         3 . The antenna system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second antenna comprises a helix antenna.  
     
     
         4 . The antenna system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second antenna comprises a substrate with a meandering conductive element.  
     
     
         5 . The antenna system according to  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the meandering conductive element is disposed on a surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         6 . The antenna system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second antenna is parasitically coupled to the first antenna.  
     
     
         7 . The antenna system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second antenna is directly connected to the first antenna.  
     
     
         8 . The antenna system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second antenna is configured to be directly connected to ground.  
     
     
         9 . An antenna system for a wireless communicator, comprising: 
 an inverted-F antenna comprising first and second branches, wherein the first branch is resonant within a first frequency band, and wherein the second branch is resonant within a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; and    a helix antenna electrically coupled with the inverted-F antenna so as to enhance at least one of the first and second resonant frequency bands of the inverted-F antenna.    
     
     
         10 . The antenna system according to  claim 9 , wherein the helix antenna is parasitically coupled to the inverted-F antenna.  
     
     
         11 . The antenna system according to  claim 9 , wherein the helix antenna is directly connected to one of the first and second branches of the inverted-F antenna.  
     
     
         12 . The antenna system according to  claim 9 , wherein the helix antenna is configured to be directly connected to ground.  
     
     
         13 . A wireless communicator, comprising: 
 a housing configured to enclose a receiver that receives wireless communications signals and/or a transmitter that transmits wireless communications signals;    a first antenna disposed within the housing, wherein the first antenna is resonant within a frequency band; and    a second antenna mounted external to the housing, wherein the second antenna is configured to electrically couple with the first antenna and enhance the resonant frequency band of the first antenna.    
     
     
         14 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the first antenna comprises an inverted-F antenna.  
     
     
         15 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the second antenna comprises a helix antenna.  
     
     
         16 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the second antenna comprises a substrate with a meandering conductive element.  
     
     
         17 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the meandering conductive element is disposed on a surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         18 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the second antenna is parasitically coupled to the first antenna.  
     
     
         19 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the second antenna is directly connected to the first antenna.  
     
     
         20 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13 , wherein the second antenna is directly connected to ground.  
     
     
         21 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 13  wherein the wireless communicator comprises a radiotelephone.  
     
     
         22 . A wireless communicator, comprising: 
 a housing configured to enclose a receiver that receives wireless communications signals and/or a transmitter that transmits wireless communications signals;    a ground plane disposed within the housing;    an inverted-F antenna disposed within the housing, wherein the inverted-F antenna is resonant within a first frequency band, wherein the inverted-F antenna comprises: 
 a conductive element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the ground plane;  
 a signal feed extending from the conductive element, wherein the signal feed is configured to electrically connect the conductive element to the receiver and/or to the transmitter; and  
 a ground feed extending from the conductive element adjacent the signal feed and electrically grounding the conductive element; and  
   a second antenna mounted external to the housing, wherein the second antenna is configured to electrically couple with the inverted-F antenna and enhance the first resonant frequency band of the inverted-F antenna.    
     
     
         23 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the ground plane comprises a printed circuit board (PCB).  
     
     
         24 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the ground plane comprises a shield can disposed within the housing.  
     
     
         25 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the second antenna is directly connected to the ground plane.  
     
     
         26 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the second antenna comprises a helix antenna.  
     
     
         27 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the second antenna comprises a substrate with a meandering conductive element.  
     
     
         28 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 27 , wherein at least a portion of the meandering conductive element is disposed on a surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         29 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the second antenna is parasitically coupled to the inverted-F antenna.  
     
     
         30 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22 , wherein the inverted-F antenna conductive element comprises first and second branches, wherein the first branch is resonant within the first frequency band, wherein the second branch is resonant within a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, and wherein the second antenna is configured to electrically couple with the inverted-F antenna and enhance at least one of the first and second resonant frequency bands.  
     
     
         31 . The wireless communicator according to claim  30 , wherein the second antenna is directly connected to one of the first and second branches of the inverted-F antenna.  
     
     
         32 . The wireless communicator according to  claim 22  wherein the wireless communicator comprises a radiotelephone.